Machine for finishing molded articles of rubber



Dec. 7, 1937. E A- HEEHAN 2,101,654

MACHINE FOR FINISHING MOLDED ARTICLES OF RUBBER Filed Jan. 25, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jigl 24 ll' i i s' a 2:0 if. 14

Wibumr .Izvenior Dec.7, 1937. EA HEEHAN 2,101,654

MACHINE FOR FINISHING MOLDED ARTICLES OF RUBBER Filed Jan. 23, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1937. A EE 2,101,654

MACHINE FOR Fnusnme MOLDED ARTICLES OF RUBB'ER 7 Filed Jan. 23, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 7, 1937. SHEEHAN 2,101,654

MACHINE FOR FINISHING MOLDED ARTICLES OF RUBBER Filed Jan. 23, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 II x Fi 7 Q o o 74" 76 '1?) 74 60 O 1 o 76 a4 83 Patented Dec. 7,, 1937 PATENT o ncEj MACHINE FOR FINISHING MOLDED. ARTL CLES OF RUBBER Edward A. Sheehan, Stoughton, assignor to Paniher-Panco Rubber Co. Inc., Chelsea, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 23, 1934, Serial No. 707,956 I 3 Claims. (Cl. 164 20) The present invention relates to machines for finishing molded articlesof rubber, more particularly rubber heels and the like, and comprises essentially apparatus for removing the I projecting fin which is formed upon a molded heelin the process of manufacture.

In the production of molded heels of rubber composition the projecting fin about the margin resulting from the molding operation is com- 10 monly removed by manually presenting the heel to one or more revolving knives, and thereafter passing the margin of the 'heel across the knives to manually remove and cut off or skive the fin in close proximity to the peripheral margin. This 16 operation, although satisfactory when performed by skilled operatives, is subject to human error,

and because of this fails to produce invariably a heel of predetermined shape and characteristics, I

' 2 The principal object of the present invention is to produce a machine for automatically removing the projecting fin from a molded heel lift or similar article in a more precise and deflnite manner than is possible of accomplishment :3 by manual operation, and in addition to perform the operation more expeditiously and with greater economy of labor than is possible with existing methods. o With this and otherobjects in view, the vari- IL') ous features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following :3 description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the improved trimming machine: Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine 40 shown in Fig. 1, with the uprights carrying the operating member and moving press platen removed; Figs. 3 and 4 are details illustrating a vertical section of the trimming mechanism as the heel blank is moved into position and during 43 the process of trimming, respectively; Fig. 5 is a similar section after the severance of the fin and upon delivery of the blank with the loosely attached fin from the trimming cavity; Fig. 6 is a section upon the line 8--B of Fig. 1, illus- 53 trating particularly the mechanism for automatically controlling the movement of the heel blank guides; and Figs. 7 and 8 are details illustrating a plan view of the blank-receivingcavitm' first opened to receive the blank, and thereafter closed upon the blank to maintain it in trimming position, and of a predetermined size and contour. v

In the machine shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the heel blank with its projecting fin is delivered to means for automaticallypresenting a succession'of blanks to the trimming mechanism. In the present form of the invention, the delivery means comprise an endless conveyor having spaced abutments or the like, which engage successive blanks, the,conveyor moving intermittently to advance these blanks to. the cooperating trimming devices. As each heel or blank is successively presented to the trimming devices, it is engaged by a divided or partible'cutter having a heel-shaped cavity.

. In its initial position the parts are separated to facilitate the introduction of ,a blank into the enlarged cavity with the fin uppermost and projecting over the face of the cutting member.

With the blank in position, the parts of the cavity are caused to approach one another into closed position, firmly engaging the blank thereby and compressing it to a predetermined and definite shape and contour. With the heel thus clamped and compressed to a predetermined size and shape, a movable cutter is brought into engagement with the projecting fin to cleanly sever the fin at exactly the juncture of. the fin and the blank. This operation is rendered possible by bringing allblanks into exact conformity with a predetermined standard determined by the separable cavity.-

' livering the blanks togthecooperating trimming devices with the blanks maintained in generally horizontal position during the trimming operation, nevertheless various methods of handling the blank before and after trimming may be employed without departing from the essential features of the invention, provided that this mechanism, whatever it may he, presents the blank or blanks in definite relationship to the trimming-devices,and providing thatthe trimming devices first compel each blank to conform to predetermined standards of size and contour, and

driving pulley Hi, from which the various parts of the mechanism are operated. A drive shaft l8 actuates a vertical shaft 20 through intermeshing-bevels 22, the shaft 20 being connected at its lower end through appropriate mechanism with the heel blank conveyor and the movable die and the supporting platen for the blank. The shaft i8 is connected directly with the upper platen and cutting member through a shortcrank 24, indicated in Fig. '1, and a connecting rod 26 pivoted at its lower end to the platen 28, as shown.

The heel blanks are supported upon an endless chain conveyor 30, passing over sprockets 32, 34, and 36 to maintain the chain taut and pressing the upper surface of the chain in a substantially horizontal reach for supporting the blank. The sprocket 34 serves as the driving sprocket for the endless chain, and is operated intermittently by a Geneva motion comprising the driven member 38 and an intermeshing and continuously rotating driving member 40, which is mounted upon a shaft 42 actuated by a sprocket chain 44 from a stub shaft 46 geared directly through the bevels 48 with the vertical shaft 20.

.The conveyor chain assembly indicated generally at 30 comprises separate link chains 50 and 52, connected at spaced intervals by cross-members 54, which serve to engage and advance successive heel blanks at regular intervals. Each of the cross members is provided with one or more engaging projections 56, which engage and position the heel blank at the breast, as shown in the drawings, and serve to generally hold the heel in proper relationship to the carrier.

The heel blank is delivered to the carrier manually at the right-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and is thence carried to the left into position in register with the cutting members. Thereafter it is passed onwardly and discharged from the conveyor. When the heel is placed in position in the moving compartment formed by successive transverse members 54, it

rests upon a stationary apron or surface 58,

shown in plan in Fig. 2, and in section in Figs. 3 and 4, the movement of the conveyor chains sliding the blank fiatwise along the stationary surface.

The projecting fin which is to be removed is located at the upper edge of the blank in this position, as shown in the drawings, andis caused to rest upon and slide along cooperating edge guides 60 positioned at either side of the raceway. These edge guides may be slightly larger than the blank, are disposed in parallel relation, and are of the proper height above the support to permit the projecting fin to rest thereon and slide easily thereover.

It will .be evident from the preceding description that the conveyor is advanced intermittently and is generally stationary during the period of trimming, thereafter being advanced approximately the length of a compartment to remove a trimmed heel and substitute an untrimmed blank. A reference to Fig. 3 indicates the relationship of the parts at the beginning of this operation. The upper movable head or platen 28 is located above and in alignment with a supporting platen 62 mounted upon a post 64, the

vertical position of which is controlled by a cam 66 mounted upon the shaft 46, and locating the position of the post 84 through a cam roll 68 journaled in a forked member 18 forming the lower end of the post and embracing the cam 66, all as indicated more particularly in Fig. 6.

As the heel blank with the untrimmed fin uppermost is advanced along the bottom 58 of the raceway, the platen 62 is generally in the receiving position shown in Fig. 3, permitting the-heel blank to be deposited thereon at a slightly lower level than that of the apron. In this position the heel blank is completely circumscribed by the parts of a separable die indicated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. This die cavity comprises a heel portion I2 and two movable side and corner portions 14 and 16. The heel portion 12 is held stationary, and the blank is advanced thereinto heel end foremost.

During or subsequent to the actual deposit of the blank in the cavity, the corner and side portions, which are mounted respectively on slides 18 and 80, approach one another and the stationary heel portion, these slides being inclined as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7. The slides are movably supported in guides 82 and 84 on the machine frame, and are positively actuated in their movement of approach and recession through cams 86 and 88, rotating in closed slots 98 formed in blocks 92. The blocks 92 are capable of adjustment with respect to the slides through adjusting screws 84 to vary the limits of travel, and by virtue of the rotation of the cams, the slides with the connected corner edges are caused to advance into closed relationship with one another and with the heel die, as shown in Fig. 8, to dwell for a period suflicient to accomplish the trimming operation, and to thereafter recede into the separated position for removal of the blank and delivery of a new blank. The cams are continuously rotated from the shaft20through a sprocket chain 96, connecting directly with the cam 88 through the shaft I00, and with the cam 86 through the sprocket chain I02 and shaft connected therewith, this arrangement serving to drive the two cams at identical speeds and in identical timed relationship.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the die cavity'is provided with a sharp cutting edge l04 which becomes continuous about the entire periphery upon closing of the cavity. Furthermore, due to the location of the platen 62 on delivery of the blank thereto the fin can be removed and is located well above the cutting edge, insuring that it shall project thereover during the trimming operation. Coincidently with the approach and closing of the sectional die cavity, the head 28 is moved downwardly causing the spring pressed platen 0 to engage with the blank, as shown in Fig. 4. This engagement of the blank by the platen clamps the blank firmly to the lower supporting platen 62, which is also slightly lowered from the actuating cam to bring the upper edge of the blank with its projecting fin at approximately the level of the cutting edge I04. Presumably this occurs coincidently with or just prior to the final closing of the cutting die.

As will be observed in Figs. 3 and 4, the spring pressed platen H0 is provided with sliding posts H2 surrounded by compression springs M4 to impose a yielding pressure upon the blank. A limiting guide rod I I6 is also connected to the platen to retain it in assembled relationship. Cooperating with the platen and connected to the head 26 is a heel-shaped die I20 registering with the cutting edge I04 when the lower die is closed, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 4. The upper die has a precise movement with respect to the cutting die, and is designed in conjunction with the cutting edge to shear off the projecting fin at its juncture with the heel blank. The arrangement insures that the trimming shall accurately produce the desired result by virtue of the fact that the separable cavity die when comguides.

pletely closed is of a size to slightly compress the blank, and by such compression remove or compensate for any slight irregularities in shape and size which might otherwise be present. Furthermore, by bringing the two corner sections into approaching relationship with one another and the heel section of the die, the blank is accurately located with respect to the die, and the severance of the fin at the exact juncture with the body of the blank controlled.

In feeding the heel blank to the cavity from the intermittently moving conveyor, it is held down and caused to drop into the cavity by a spring hold-down I22, mounted on the frame above the conveyor at the point of delivery to the die cavity. In addition, the projecting flange or rib is caused to spread over the cutting edge rather than being caught in the cavity by movable edgefguides I25 and I21, which are pivoted at I30 beneath the stationary guides 60. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the stationary guides terminate at I32 before the blank reaches the cavity, and thereafter the guiding and control of the projecting rib is taken over by the movable These. guides maintain the rib outspread until it is actually deposited in the cavity, and insure the rib being spread over the cutting edge. Thereafter as the-movable head" is lowered into cutting position, two projections I34 projecting from the front of the head as shown in Fig. 6, engage wing cams I36 connected to swinging arms I38, each of which is connected with the advanced ends of the movable guides I25 and I21. The arms swing the advanced ends of the guides outwardly to clear the downward movement of the head after the blank is in position. On elevation of the head the guides are.

returned by sprlngs I", all as indicated generally in Fig. 6, the stationary edge guides being shown in this figure just above the movable guides.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that although the separable cavity die has been described as slightly compressing the blank to reduce all blanks to a common standard, the pressure imposed upon the blank by the springpressed platen may be suflicient to expand the blank and insure that it completely fills the die cavity.

At the completion of the trimming operation, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the springpressed platen is elevated to release the blank, the parts of the separable cavity die are caused to recede from one another, and the supporting platen 62 is elevated-to the level of the die cavity to permit engagement of the blank by the transverse abutment and removal from the cavity through the endless conveyor by which it is discharged at the left-hand end of the machine in Fig. 1. The operation is then repeated with the next succeeding blank, and continues automatically so long as the conveyor is maintained filled with blanks by the operator.

It will be evident that with this construction 'the machine is operated continuously'as to virtually all of the parts except the conveyor, which is intermittently operated between trimming operations. At the same time the cooperating dies are caused to dwell sumciently to insure proper and complete severance of the projecting fin, Although in the drawings the fin is illustrated as still attached to the blank, in actual practice it is either completely severed and drops off, or may be easily removed by a simple pull.

It will be understood by those skilled in the throughout the entire periphery, and means for feeding the blanks to the cutting cavity and their removal therefrom, although regardless of feeding means the trimming operation is vastly improved as compared with the usual method of trimming such articles.

It will furthermore be evident that although the present invention is particularly applicable to molded rubber products such as rubber heels and the like, nevertheless the features of the invention are applicable to any molded product of yielding characteristics which must-be trimmed to a definite shape, and the contour of which lends itself to the employment of a separable cutting die, the parts of which can be caused to approach and recede to form a closed and continuous edge when in operative relation.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for trimming heels or the like of rubber comprising a collapsible cavity die having a fixed heel portion and movable portions cooperating therewith to form the completed die,

, the die having a continuous peripheral cutting edge when inclosed relationship, automatic feed means for advancing an article heel end foremost into contact with the heel portion of the die cavity. means for maintaining the trimming flange extended in the plane of the article to overlie the cutting edge, means for closing the die to force the article into a position determined by the fixed heel portion with the flange overlying the cutting edge, and means for engaging the article and forcing it inwardly of the cavity to shear the flange on the cutting edge.

2. A machine for trimming heels or the like of rubber comprising a collapsible cavity die having a peripheral cutting edge, means for supporting an article to be trimmed within the die, a member cooperating therewith for engaging and forcing the article inwardly of the die to shear the projecting flange upon the cutting edge,

means for feeding the article to the cavity die.

the flange overlying the peripheral cutting edge,

thereafter closing the die upon the heel and exerting suflicient squeezing pressure upon the resilient heel blank to compress it transversely of the cavity of predetermined form and size while supporting the heel at a fixed and predetermined level with respect to the peripheral cutting edge, and shearing the projecting flange of the heel blank against the edge of the die cavity while the blank is supported therein.

A. BHEEHAN.

depth and insure a complete filling of the die 

